Who judges?

12Jun
It is God who judges;
he puts down one and lifts up another.
-Psalm 75:7


Judgement is a prominent feature in our society, and so, it seems, it was thousands of years ago, when Psalm 75 was written. In the context of the verses around it, Psalm 75:7 seems to say that people will get what they deserve. The righteous will be lifted up, and the wicked will be put down.

 

In our broken world, ruled by sin, that does not often seem to be the case. Too often those who take advantage of others seem to be rewarded, while those who are taken advantage of, through no fault of their own, seem to find no help available to them. Too often those who divide us with hate and fear, find followers willing to give them a more powerful platform than those preaching love and acceptance.

 

This excerpt from Psalm 75 reminds us that, even if people do not get what they deserve in this world, from their fellow sons and daughters of God, they will get what is owed to them from God himself.

 

The verse also serves as a great reminder. We are flawed; God is not. We are not all-knowing; God is. We change; God does not. Who then can claim to be able to judge anyone else? God has the necessary qualifications for that job, not us. To assume otherwise, and to play the role of judge, particularly for someone’s eternal salvation, is to try to step into God’s role, which we clearly ill-equipped for.

 

Yet, in Christian circles, much time is spent on who will and who will not get into Heaven. God has called on us to love each other, as he loves us, but we try to decide who is and is not worthy of that love. 

 

Trust in God. Trust that He will do the job of judge so well that we can focus on the job he has given us: love.


Musical Reflection - Jesus, Friend of Sinners - Casting Crowns


God, help us to remember that only you are a truly just judge of the character of your creation. Help us to be hesitant to judge each other, and to remember that when Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, he said to love the lord God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself. That is what we are called to do, not to judge. Amen

PsalmsJudgementPentecost

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